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Bald Patch?

D

Damo122

Guest
Hi everyone,

Malcolm has developed a bald patch on the back of his neck. I first noticed it a few weeks ago when it was quite small but it has now grown a lot.

I was at the vets buying litter the on friday so i asked a nurse what she thought. She said it sounded like ring worm. Im taking him in tomorrow but I don't have much confidence in my vet so i was wondering what you guys thought.

A few months ago we were injecting antibiotics for a chest infection and the patch is in the same are that we were injecting him so I'm wondering if the there might be a connection.

The only other thing I can think of is mites as he has always scratched a lot.

Grateful for any advice.

Damo
 
I'm not quite sure what it could be...some kind of bug possibly? :? The only advise I have is that if you are not that confindent if you vet, you might want to look into a rabbit specialist.

Good luck and let us know what it is.
 
It does sound like mites as ringworm isn't that common in rabbits. Is the skin red and scurfy. Is it sort of scabby and the hair is either missing or broken off half way down the shaft?

That is what mites look at and they usually start around the neck and base of the tail.

They get them when they are stressed and if he has had a chest infection then his immune response was probably directed at that and the mites took advantage to multiply.

A course of ivermectin should sort it out.

Caz
 
Hi Caz,

The skin is just pink like a baby's bottom. The hair is completely missing.

Damo
 
Hmm maybe just pulled out then although Zeus was just a bit pink at first before it got all scabby. If it is ringworm it is highly contageous so you should wash your hands after handling him and don't snuggle him near your face. May be worth getting a once over from the vet!

Caz
 
hi

this is a good article which might help - awful photos though :(
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html

ringworm's quite unusual isn't it? I would have thought it was mites too, in which case it's a shot of ivermectin to clear it up...It's possible Sandy (if I remember her name correctly?) has been grooming that spot more with him having injections there - she may have 'noticed' it more and concentrated on it?

A skin scrape should analyse what's going on - but it takes days for the results to come back.
 
Thanks Elve,

Your right the pictures are nasty but it's a useful link. I'm taking Malcolm to the vet tomorrow so I'll let u know what they say.

Damo
 
Thanks Elve,

Very helpful as always.

I'm taking Malcolm to the vet tomorrow so I'll let u know what they say.

Damo
 
Hi,

Sorry forgot to update this one. I took Malcolm to the vet and they said that the bald patch was probably due to the baytril injections.

A few days ago i noticed that he had a cut towards the edge of the bald patch. I'm assuming he hit it on the underneath of my bed, in anycase I treated it with tea tree oil and it's seems to have healed up.

The vet had a quick look and said she couldn't see any mites but I'm still not convinced as Malcolm seems to scratch behind his ears every few minutes, in addition to which I've noiced that he seems to be loosing more hair around the top of his head and ears.

I picked up a mite spray in Pets @ home the other day so i might try that out, not sure how well it will work though as he is long haired.

Damo
 
Awww poor Malcolm. Ringworm is relatively to diagnose or rule out, as it fluoresces (sp?) under UV light.

I must admit it does sound to me like it might be mites. What does your PAH mite spray have listed as the active ingredient/s?
 
Hi Alison,

Just checked the bottle and it states the active ing as Pyrethrins and Pipernoyl butoxide.

Any ideas? :)

Damien
 
My female bun Hope had a bald patch just as you have described, so I took her to the vet last monday and its been diagnosed as 'walking dandruff'. She had a jab last week, was back for one today, and she has another to get next week. I obviously didn't know what it was last week, so therefore I passed on the mites to my nine week old bunny Alfie. He has had one jab, and he goes tomorrow for another. The pesky little things bit me too!!
 
You can also use Advantage flea treatment on cheytiella mites (walking dandruff), Princess had it, had one tube of Advantage and all the fur grew back on her ears and now all sorted :D
 
Hope's hair is almost all grown in again,but there are a couple of live mites on her. I don't think Alfie had quite as many though, I feel really guilty for passing them too him, and he is so young.
 
DSC02389.jpg


Wee Hope, looking a bit annoyed after seeing the vet!!
 
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